Ontario Parks Celebrate 125 Years

125 Years of Conservation, Education and Recreation
From camping under the stars to hiking through back country trails, Ontario parks have been offering people across Ontario a great way to stay healthy and experience our province for 125 years.

In 1893, Algonquin Provincial Park became the very first provincial park in Ontario. This year, Ontario Parks is celebrating the 125th anniversary of our provincial park system with events, music, art and more.

Imagine Adventure

Visit one of our provincial parks to discover something new. With a variety of trails for hiking, waterways for canoeing, and countless other outdoor activities – Ontario Parks has something for everyone.

Inspiring the Arts

From the Group of Seven to Indigenous artists – and even modern-day creatives – the landscapes of Ontario Parks continue to inspire the creation of outstanding works of art. A brand-new art-based program designed to connect people with nature through hands-on art activities, will be offered in parks across the province.

Contribute to Science

The public will be invited to give back, learn, and participate in stewardship programs to help protect the incredible amount of biodiversity found in provincial parks, bioblitz events, invasive species removal, and wildlife monitoring.

Events and activities will be happening all year at parks across the province, so be sure to check out the Ontario Parks website for all the newest information.

Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

QUICK FACTS

There are over 330 provincial parks in Ontario, covering more than 8-million hectares — larger than Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island combined.

In 2017, Ontario’s provincial parks received more than 10 million visits from people around the world and brought in close to $90 million in revenue directly back to Ontario Parks, supporting jobs and businesses across the province.

Ontario Parks supports Healthy Parks, Healthy People, a worldwide movement that works to promote and understand the link between a healthy environment and human health. Join us on July 20, 2018 for free day-use in all provincial parks and help us celebrate Ontario Parks 125.

“Ontario has a world-class parks system, and this anniversary allows us to celebrate the fantastic opportunities right in our backyard. Our parks offer something for everyone so check out what is happening at your local park or venture to one farther away for an exciting new adventure.”
— Kathryn McGarry, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry